Chapter 98

As I returned with Ines riding on the back of the dragon, the scene around us was horrific. Buildings had collapsed as far as the eye could see, and the bodies of countless monsters, which seemed to have emerged from the labyrinth, were piled up like mountains.

There was no sign of movement anywhere, and it seemed as if the once beautiful city of Misra had turned into a complete ruin.

However, we noticed Lean and Astira waving at us from the ground, and we had the dragon land right next to them. I handed Astira over to Roro, who had come to greet us, and was about to exchange words with Lean and the others.

"──Linneburg, we're back."

"Ines, you've really gone through a lot. Is Mr. Noll all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

As I approached Lean and looked at her, I became a little worried about her.

"Lean, are you okay? ...Your face looks pretty pale."

There were no visible wounds on her face or arms, but her white dress was torn in several places, and there were burn marks on her hands. Her expression had become quite tired since the last time I saw her.

"Yes, I pushed myself a bit... I got a little injured. But thanks to Astira, I'm all better now, so there's no need to worry."

"...Is that so?"

As I looked at Astira, who was standing next to Lean, she quietly shook her head.

"No... Not at all! It wasn't just a little. We managed to get through it because we treated the injuries quickly... But it was quite dangerous, to be honest."

"Yes, I'm really sorry... Everyone was put in danger because of me..."

Lean shook her head again.

"Really, what are you talking about... Seriously! We all owe our lives to you. You have every right to be proud. There's no need to say such things... Well, the last part was a bit scary, though."

"...Is that so?"

Lean looked at Astira, who was standing next to her, and she shook her head.

"No! Thanks to you, everyone was saved. It was just a bit of a shock, that's all! ...Thank you very much."

"Yes... Thank you, Astira."

"That's what I should be saying, Lean!"

Astira and Lean looked at each other and laughed for a while.

I wondered when they had become so close.

Lean still seemed a bit worrying... but she was laughing, so she must be okay.

As I was watching them, a voice came from behind me.

"Your Excellency."

It was Sigil.

Behind him were the other five.

"I have inspected the area as per your command, but the situation is dire. All the buildings in the city have collapsed, and many citizens are likely trapped under the rubble. Fortunately, most of the citizens have evacuated outside the city, and there are no signs of monsters or other threats..."

"...I see."

"Therefore, I would like to request that we, the 'Twelve Holy Apostles,' be ordered to assist in the rescue of the citizens."

"Yes, I think that's a good idea. Please hurry, Sigil!"

"──I am grateful for your understanding."

Sigil said only that and immediately ran off with the others.

"Ines, I will go check if our belongings are safe... Please wait here until I return."

"Yes, thank you, Ines."

Ines walked off somewhere.

But I suddenly had a question.

Just now, Sigil seemed to have reported something to Astira and then left.

Was she that important...?

I thought she was just an adventurer.

"Astira, what was that just now? ...I thought you were an adventurer."

"Hehe, that's true, but there's a bit of a situation. Right now, I'm the mother of that boy... Prince Tylence."

"...Mother...??"

"Yes. It feels like I suddenly became important. It's a new experience, and I think I might get into it."

"...???"

Astira seemed to be talking with enthusiasm, but I couldn't quite follow her.

As I was thoroughly confused, a familiar boy, who had been talking to a group of soldiers, finished his conversation and walked straight towards us.

That was...

"──Are you Mr. Noll?"

"Yes."

He was definitely the prince of this country.

Yes, Prince Tylence.

"Mr. Noll, I apologize for the numerous discourtesies shown to you by the people of our country... I am sure it must have been very unpleasant for you."

"...? ...No...?"

"As the representative of the current administration, I sincerely apologize."

The prince standing before me said this and suddenly bowed deeply.

...Wait a minute.

I have no idea why he's doing this.

I only remember being treated well by Sigil and the others.

Or rather... I vaguely recall opening up huge holes in the ground of this country with my 'Black Sword' twice... or maybe three times.

But it was in the 'Labyrinth,' so maybe they are being lenient about it...?

However, the prince's face, as he raised his head, seemed to have no such thoughts.

"──Furthermore, your heroic efforts during the crisis of our country. Thanks to you, our country has been saved. No amount of gratitude or apology can express my thanks to you, Mr. Noll. I will make sure to repay this debt in the future."

He looked me straight in the eye and said this.

"...Is that so?"

...I was speechless, overwhelmed by his momentum.

Apologies and thanks...

...I don't need them.

This boy...

He looks much better than when I met him yesterday, but I might have let my guard down.

He has the same aura as Lean and her family, especially her father.

My vague response just now...

...might have been a mistake.

No... I need to clear up this misunderstanding as soon as possible, or it might become a real problem later...

As I was feeling this sense of crisis, the boy was already turning to Astira.

"──Should I address you as Lady Astira?"

The prince looked at her face carefully and said this.

"Yes, you don't need to be so formal. Just call me Astira... Actually, should I be the one to be formal...?"

"...So, it's not just your appearance, but your name is the same as well. Does that mean you are really...?"

"Hehe, there's only one of me. I am the unique adventurer of the party 'The Sage's Cup.' ...But, the party probably disbanded a long time ago... It's been quite a while, hasn't it...?"

Astira looked around.

There were no intact buildings, only rubble, but she seemed to be looking at it with curiosity.

I remember she said she was in that strange place inside the 'Blue Stone' for a long time.

"...By the way, how long were you in that place? You said you were trapped."

"That's the thing, I have no idea... Time there is vague, and there wasn't much to do, so I mostly slept. But, I think it must have been at least a few decades...?"

"A few decades?"

"No... I don't think it was just a few decades."

The prince interjected, as if confirming something.

"Surprisingly, it is believed that more than two hundred years have passed."

"Two... two hundred years?"

Astira's expression froze in surprise at the prince's words.

I was also a bit surprised.

...She didn't look like someone who had lived for two hundred years.

"...Two hundred years, huh...?"

"Yes. According to the historical records of our country, the labyrinth was conquered by the Pope, and the 'Holy Misra Kingdom' was established more than two hundred years ago. This record has been verified by multiple researchers, so it is likely that you were imprisoned deep in the labyrinth before that time."

"Ah... Two hundred years, huh..."

Astira sighed and looked up at the sky.

"...I... I didn't know I had become such an old lady without realizing it...?"

"Is that what you're worried about...?"

"No, there are other things I should be concerned about, but right now, that's all I can think of."

Well, that's how it is.

I've never had such an experience, so I don't understand.

Actually, if two hundred years had passed, I wouldn't be alive.

"...Wait? But... Oaken is still alive, right?"

"Yes, he is."

"Then, maybe... it's someone else?"

"No, I believe the person you are referring to is Mr. Oaken."

Lean, who had been listening quietly to our conversation, spoke up.

"Mr. Oaken is already over two hundred years old."

At Lean's words, Astira and I looked at her in surprise.

"Really...!? Oaken is over two hundred years old...!?"

"...That old man is that old?"

"Yes. Although he doesn't make it public, he is about two hundred and eighty years old, as he told me."

"...Why is Oaken still alive? I thought he was human."

"...That's a good question. I also wonder about it every time I meet him... But, why don't you ask him directly?"

"You're right... Yeah, that's a good idea."

Astira nodded as if she had come to a decision.

"...Then, my next destination is decided."

"What are you going to do?"

"It's decided! I'm going to the Clayse Kingdom."

Astira smiled at me and gave a thumbs up.

...Is that something she has to do?

"But, Astira, aren't you supposed to be doing something here? Like pretending to be the prince's mother or something?"

"Yes... But, I can't stay here forever as an outsider pretending to be someone else. I'm good at acting, but eventually, I'll be found out. Fortunately, I still have someone I can rely on, so... I think it would be nice to go to the Clayse Kingdom and live in the capital."

"I see. Then, are you going with us? We have a carriage."

"Can I ride in it?"

"Yes, I think so. Lean, what do you think?"

I looked at Lean for her opinion.

But, Lean seemed to be thinking about something and then looked at Prince Tylence.

"Yes, I think it's fine. Ines is looking for the carriage, and if it's not damaged, it should be usable. But... about that matter..."

"...I'll talk about it. Thank you, Lean."

Prince Tylence stepped forward and faced Astira.

"Actually, as a prince of the Misra Kingdom, I have a request for you... Of course, only if you agree."

"Yes, what is it? Please tell me anything!"

Astira was smiling happily, but the prince took a deep breath, as if making a decision, and spoke.

"If you would, could you stay in our country, the 'Misra Kingdom'...?"

"...In this country?"

"Yes. I feel uncomfortable asking this of someone who is not related to our country... but, Misra is a country that has been built around the 'Pope.' In fact, it could be said that the country was built by her alone. The citizens of Misra are very tired after this battle. If the core of the country, the 'Pope,' is gone, the country will... surely fall apart."

"...I see... I see...?"

Astira nodded while listening to the prince, but she didn't seem to fully understand.

I also didn't understand the content of the prince's words, but I could feel his sincerity.

"...So, in short, you want me to continue pretending to be your mother?"

"To put it simply, yes. I would like you to continue acting as the 'Pope' of our country, the Misra Kingdom. I know it's a lot to ask, but our country really needs you right now."

"...I see... I see...? ...But, I'm not really getting the situation..."

Astira looked at the prince's face carefully and nodded as if she had come to a decision.

"Yes, I understand. Noll, I'm staying here! Please tell Oaken for me."

"Alright, I'll tell him when I see him."

"...Hmm. That's a much more casual response than I expected... But, anyway, thank you."

"...? Sure, I'll tell him."

Astira pouted slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with my response, but I thought it was up to her to decide.

It wasn't my place to say anything about it.

However, the prince seemed a bit surprised.

"...You really will stay?"

"Yes, but I don't know anything about politics... Is it okay for someone with no experience?"

"Yes, the practical work will be handled by the administrators and me. Others will support your daily life, so all you need to do is show your face to the citizens from time to time. That alone will save this country."

"...Really...? Just showing my face...? ...And I'll get food?"

"Of course."

"...And I'll have a place to live, right?"

"Yes, there are several palaces, so you can use the one you like."

"...Can I go out for a change of pace, like shopping, from time to time?"

"Yes, except for important ceremonies and diplomatic events, you are free to come and go as you please."

"I see... I see...!"

After asking various questions, Astira nodded with a satisfied expression.

"Then, there's no reason for me not to stay here! I'll do my best!"

"...Are you sure? It will take away a lot of your freedom... even though you are not related to this country."

"Hmm, not related, huh... No, I don't think I can say that...?"

"What do you mean...?"

Prince Tylence looked at her with a puzzled expression, waiting for her next words.

"...Probably, the reason those monsters appeared in the first place was because our party, 'The Sage's Cup,' entered the depths of the 'Lamenting Labyrinth'... I think that's definitely the case. We were the ones who created the opportunity for them to come out. So, I'm not completely unrelated.

After that, I was trapped, so I don't know what happened, and I didn't expect such a big city... or country... to be built when I came out."

"That... is indeed true."

The prince nodded, as if thinking about something, and Astira stood in front of him, looking at him with a serious expression.

"And, there's another reason why I'm not completely unrelated. That is, you."

"Me?"

"Yes, you're a half-elf, right?"

"...That's correct."

"I, to my knowledge... have never met a half-elf before. In fact, I've never even heard of one outside the 'Forest' besides myself."

"...That's true. To my knowledge, it's the same."

"Right? That's why I don't feel like you're a stranger. Well, that's all there is to it, but... I feel like we're definitely related... In fact, when I first saw you, I felt like you could be a long-lost family member."

"...I also feel the same way."

"Hehe, right! Right!"

The two faced each other and looked into each other's eyes.

Indeed, they looked very similar.

Moreover, he was the son of the unpleasant Astira, who had the same name and appearance, so to someone like me who didn't know, they would look like a mother and son.

"...So, in my heart, I wanted to stay with you. But, I thought I might be a burden if I stayed here for too long... After all, I was the one who let those monsters out. If that were to be discovered, it could cause a lot of trouble."

"...No, that's not something you need to worry about. On the contrary, if what you said is true, you are the one who set the stage for the founding of this country. In that case, you should be at the center of this country."

"...So, I can stay here, right?"

"Yes, of course. As a prince of the Misra Kingdom, I ask you."

"Then, as your mother... for the rest of my life, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I see... By the way, can I ask you something? ...It's not a condition or anything, but..."

"...Yes, anything."

"Hehe, if you say anything, I'll go all out."

Astira smiled mischievously and suddenly spread her arms wide.

"──Yes, please... don't hold back."

Prince Tylence froze with a puzzled expression.

I also didn't understand and looked at Lean, who was standing next to me, but she also seemed confused.

"...What is it...?"

"...Ah, don't you understand? You know... in plays and such, there's that scene where long-lost family members have an emotional reunion and hug... That's what I've